IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v77y2014icp597-607.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrated torrefaction vs. external torrefaction – A thermodynamic analysis for the case of a thermochemical biorefinery

Author

Listed:
  • Clausen, Lasse R.

Abstract

Integrated and external torrefaction is analyzed and compared via thermodynamic modeling. In this paper, integrated torrefaction is defined as torrefaction integrated with entrained flow gasification. External torrefaction is defined as the decentralized production of torrefied wood pellets and centralized conversion of the pellets by entrained flow gasification. First, the syngas production of the two methods was compared. Second, the two methods were compared by considering complete biorefineries with either integrated torrefaction or external torrefaction. The first part of the analysis showed that the biomass to syngas efficiency can be increased from 63% to 86% (LHV-dry) when switching from external torrefaction to integrated torrefaction. The second part of the analysis showed that the total energy efficiency (biomass to methanol + net electricity) could be increased from 53% to 63% when switching from external torrefaction to integrated torrefaction. The costs of this increase in energy efficiency are as follows: 1) more difficult transport, storage and handling of the biomass feedstock (wood chips vs. torrefied wood pellets); 2) reduced plant size; 3) no net electricity production; and 4) a more complex plant design.

Suggested Citation

  • Clausen, Lasse R., 2014. "Integrated torrefaction vs. external torrefaction – A thermodynamic analysis for the case of a thermochemical biorefinery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 597-607.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:77:y:2014:i:c:p:597-607
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.09.042
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544214010986
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2014.09.042?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hamelinck, Carlo N. & Faaij, André P.C. & den Uil, Herman & Boerrigter, Harold, 2004. "Production of FT transportation fuels from biomass; technical options, process analysis and optimisation, and development potential," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1743-1771.
    2. Prins, Mark J. & Ptasinski, Krzysztof J. & Janssen, Frans J.J.G., 2006. "More efficient biomass gasification via torrefaction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(15), pages 3458-3470.
    3. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Houbak, Niels, 2010. "Technoeconomic analysis of a low CO2 emission dimethyl ether (DME) plant based on gasification of torrefied biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 4831-4842.
    4. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik, 2011. "Thermodynamic analysis of small-scale dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol plants based on the efficient two-stage gasifier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 5805-5814.
    5. Uslu, Ayla & Faaij, André P.C. & Bergman, P.C.A., 2008. "Pre-treatment technologies, and their effect on international bioenergy supply chain logistics. Techno-economic evaluation of torrefaction, fast pyrolysis and pelletisation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1206-1223.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Doddapaneni, Tharaka Rama Krishna C. & Praveenkumar, Ramasamy & Tolvanen, Henrik & Rintala, Jukka & Konttinen, Jukka, 2018. "Techno-economic evaluation of integrating torrefaction with anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 272-284.
    2. Clausen, Lasse R., 2015. "Maximizing biofuel production in a thermochemical biorefinery by adding electrolytic hydrogen and by integrating torrefaction with entrained flow gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 94-104.
    3. Holmgren, Kristina M. & Berntsson, Thore S. & Andersson, Eva & Rydberg, Tomas, 2015. "The influence of biomass supply chains and by-products on the greenhouse gas emissions from gasification-based bio-SNG production systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 148-162.
    4. Butera, Giacomo & Fendt, Sebastian & Jensen, Søren H. & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Clausen, Lasse R., 2020. "Flexible methanol production units coupling solid oxide cells and thermochemical biomass conversion via different gasification technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    5. Zhang, Zhiqing & Duan, Hanqi & Zhang, Youjun & Guo, Xiaojuan & Yu, Xi & Zhang, Xingguang & Rahman, Md. Maksudur & Cai, Junmeng, 2020. "Investigation of kinetic compensation effect in lignocellulosic biomass torrefaction: Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    6. Butera, Giacomo & Gadsbøll, Rasmus Østergaard & Ravenni, Giulia & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik Birk & Clausen, Lasse Røngaard, 2020. "Thermodynamic analysis of methanol synthesis combining straw gasification and electrolysis via the low temperature circulating fluid bed gasifier and a char bed gas cleaning unit," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Batidzirai, B. & Mignot, A.P.R. & Schakel, W.B. & Junginger, H.M. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2013. "Biomass torrefaction technology: Techno-economic status and future prospects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 196-214.
    2. Sarkar, Susanjib & Kumar, Amit & Sultana, Arifa, 2011. "Biofuels and biochemicals production from forest biomass in Western Canada," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 6251-6262.
    3. Brojolall, Neeha & Surroop, Dinesh, 2022. "Improving fuel characteristics through torrefaction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    4. Clausen, Lasse R., 2015. "Maximizing biofuel production in a thermochemical biorefinery by adding electrolytic hydrogen and by integrating torrefaction with entrained flow gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 94-104.
    5. Chai, Li & Saffron, Christopher M., 2016. "Comparing pelletization and torrefaction depots: Optimization of depot capacity and biomass moisture to determine the minimum production cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 387-395.
    6. Rousset, P. & Fernandes, K. & Vale, A. & Macedo, L. & Benoist, A., 2013. "Change in particle size distribution of Torrefied biomass during cold fluidization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 71-77.
    7. Agar, David A. & Rudolfsson, Magnus & Lavergne, Simon & Melkior, Thierry & Da Silva Perez, Denilson & Dupont, Capucine & Campargue, Matthieu & Kalén, Gunnar & Larsson, Sylvia H., 2021. "Pelleting torrefied biomass at pilot-scale – Quality and implications for co-firing," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 766-774.
    8. Meerman, J.C. & Ramírez, A. & Turkenburg, W.C. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2011. "Performance of simulated flexible integrated gasification polygeneration facilities. Part A: A technical-energetic assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 2563-2587, August.
    9. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Kuo, Po-Chih, 2011. "Isothermal torrefaction kinetics of hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and xylan using thermogravimetric analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 6451-6460.
    10. Hao Luo & Lukasz Niedzwiecki & Amit Arora & Krzysztof Mościcki & Halina Pawlak-Kruczek & Krystian Krochmalny & Marcin Baranowski & Mayank Tiwari & Anshul Sharma & Tanuj Sharma & Zhimin Lu, 2020. "Influence of Torrefaction and Pelletizing of Sawdust on the Design Parameters of a Fixed Bed Gasifier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    11. Luis Puigjaner & Mar Pérez-Fortes & José M. Laínez-Aguirre, 2015. "Towards a Carbon-Neutral Energy Sector: Opportunities and Challenges of Coordinated Bioenergy Supply Chains-A PSE Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-48, June.
    12. Mevawala, Chirag & Jiang, Yuan & Bhattacharyya, Debangsu, 2019. "Techno-economic optimization of shale gas to dimethyl ether production processes via direct and indirect synthesis routes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 119-134.
    13. Fornell, Rickard & Berntsson, Thore & Åsblad, Anders, 2013. "Techno-economic analysis of a kraft pulp-mill-based biorefinery producing both ethanol and dimethyl ether," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 83-92.
    14. Wu, Handong & Gao, Lin & Jin, Hongguang & Li, Sheng, 2017. "Low-energy-penalty principles of CO2 capture in polygeneration systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 571-581.
    15. Huang, Yu-Fong & Cheng, Pei-Hsin & Chiueh, Pei-Te & Lo, Shang-Lien, 2017. "Leucaena biochar produced by microwave torrefaction: Fuel properties and energy efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1018-1025.
    16. Gerssen-Gondelach, S.J. & Saygin, D. & Wicke, B. & Patel, M.K. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2014. "Competing uses of biomass: Assessment and comparison of the performance of bio-based heat, power, fuels and materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 964-998.
    17. Holmgren, Kristina M. & Berntsson, Thore & Andersson, Eva & Rydberg, Tomas, 2012. "System aspects of biomass gasification with methanol synthesis – Process concepts and energy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 817-828.
    18. Sermyagina, Ekaterina & Saari, Jussi & Zakeri, Behnam & Kaikko, Juha & Vakkilainen, Esa, 2015. "Effect of heat integration method and torrefaction temperature on the performance of an integrated CHP-torrefaction plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 24-34.
    19. Rudolfsson, Magnus & Stelte, Wolfgang & Lestander, Torbjörn A., 2015. "Process optimization of combined biomass torrefaction and pelletization for fuel pellet production – A parametric study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 378-384.
    20. Vincent, Shubha Shalini & Mahinpey, Nader & Aqsha, Aqsha, 2014. "Mass transfer studies during CO2 gasification of torrefied and pyrolyzed chars," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 319-327.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:77:y:2014:i:c:p:597-607. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.